Holder for a portable apparatus

ABSTRACT

A holder for a pager, handy phone or similar portable apparatus includes a body for removably receiving the apparatus and a clip removably mounted to the body. A guide is formed on one surface of the body and includes a pair of parallel rails. An engaging portion is included in the clip and includes a pair of ridges slidingly engageable with the rails. A locking device is provided on the guide and engaging portion for selectively locking or unlocking them to or from each other. The locking device is implemented by a recess and a lug respectively positioned between one of the rails and ridges and between the other of the rails and ridges. A slit surrounds the lug while the lug is connected to one side of the wall of the slit and elastically deformable toward and away from the recess. The recess and lug mate with each other when the engaging portion is slid into the guide.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a holder for a pager, handy phone orsimilar portable electronic apparatus and more particularly to a holdercapable of being put on the user's trousers or belt.

A miniature portable electronic apparatus, e.g., a pager or a handyphone is expected to be used while being carried by the user. Usually,therefore, this kind of portable apparatus is removably received in aholder including a clip. The user of the apparatus passes the user'sbelt through the clip so as to carry the apparatus received in theholder. This enhances the portability of the apparatus without degradingthe manipulability of the apparatus.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 5-122127, for example,discloses a holder for the above application. A problem with the holdertaught in this document is that it needs a number of structural elementsincluding a body for receiving a portable apparatus, a clip for passinga belt, a pin for connecting the body and clip, a torsion coil spring,and stop members for stopping the pin. Another problem is that toassemble the holder, it is necessary to align hinges formed on theholder and clip against the action of the torsion spring, pass the pinthrough the hinges, and then affix the stop members to the pin. Such aprocedure is difficult to perform and increases the production cost ofthe holder.

Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Publication No. 6-9244 proposes aholder having a case or body and a clip implemented as a single moldingfor reducing the number of pats and simplifying assembly work. This,however, brings about other problems, as follows. The molding includingthe body and clip is not obtainable without complicating the structureof a mold and is apt to render the production of the holder moresophisticated. Moreover, when either the body or the clip is broken, theholder must be bodily discarded because the body and clip are moldedintegrally with each other. Discarding the body or the clip still usableis undesirable from the user's expenses standpoint as well as from theresource standpoint.

Technologies relating to the present invention are also disclosed in,e.g., Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication Nos. 7-78607 and 5-65131.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a holderfor a portable apparatus including a clip removably mounted to a body soas to enhance easy and efficient maintenance.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a holder for aportable apparatus needing a minimum number of parts and allowing a bodyand a clip to be firmly assembled in a simple structure.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a holder fora portable apparatus capable of being assembled easily and rapidly andpromoting easy and rapid replacement of a clip.

A holder for a portable apparatus of the present invention includes abody for removably receiving the apparatus and a clip removably mountedto the body. A guide is formed on one surface of the body and includes apair of parallel rails. An engaging portion is included in the clip andincludes a pair of ridges slidingly engageable with the rails. A lockingdevice is provided on the guide and engaging portion for selectivelylocking or unlocking them to or from each other. The locking device isimplemented by a recess and a lug respectively positioned between one ofthe rails and ridges and between the other of the rails and ridges. Aslit surrounds the lug while the lug is connected to one side of thewall of the slit and elastically deformable toward and away from therecess. The recess and lug mate with each other when the engagingportion is slid into the guide.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will become more apparent from the following detaileddescription taken with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective front view showing a conventional holder;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional side elevation of the holder shown inFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective rear view showing a holder embodyingthe present invention;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective front view of the holder shown in FIG.3;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are respectively a vertical and a horizontal sectionalside elevation showing the illustrative embodiment with a portableapparatus;

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective rear view showing an alternativeembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective front view of the alternativeembodiment; and

FIG. 9 is a vertical sectional side elevation showing the alternativeembodiment with a portable apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

To better understand the present invention, brief reference will be madeto a conventional holder for a portable apparatus, shown in FIGS. 1 and2. As shown, the holder is generally made up of a body 110 and a clip120 hinged to the rear of the body 110. A portable apparatus 101(indicated by a dash-and-dots line in FIG. 2) is removably received inthe body 110. The user of the portable apparatus may pass the user'sbelt through the clip 120 for carrying the apparatus with the user.

As shown in FIG. 1, the body 110 has a rectangular, thin rear wall 111,a pair of side walls 112 and 113 protruding forward from the lowerportions of opposite sides of the rear wall 111, and a bottom wall 114connecting the bottoms of the three walls 111, 112 and 113. The rearwall 111, sidewall is 112 and 113 and bottom wall 114 form a pocket 110a for receiving the portable apparatus 101. As shown in FIG. 2, a pairof hinges 115 protrude from the rear upper portion of the rear wall 111.

As shown in FIG. 2, the clip 120 mounted on the rear of the body 110 isimplemented by a thin plate 121 having its lower end bent toward thebody 110 in the form of a letter L, as viewed in a vertical sectionalview. The bent end of the plate 121 constitutes an anti-slip portion122. A pair of hinges 125 protrude from the surface of the plate 121facing the rear wall of the body 110 toward the hinges 115. A pin 130 ispassed through the hinges 115 and 125, so that the hinges 115 and 125can rotate relative to each other. Stop members, not shown, are fittedon the pin 130 so as to prevent it from slipping out of the hinges 115and 125.

The anti-slip portion 122 of the plate 121 abuts against the rear wall111 of the body 110. This, coupled with the hinges 115 and 125 connectedtogether by the pin 130, positions the plate 121 and rear plate 111parallel to each other. In this condition, the body 110 and clip 120form a space 120 a for receiving the user's belt.

A torsion coil spring 131 is wound round the pin 130 and anchored at oneend to the hinge 115 and at the other end to the hinge 125. The spring131 constantly biases the plate 121 such that the anti-slip portion 122remains in contact with the rear wall 111 of the body 110.

When the user presses the end portion of the plate 121 adjoining thecoil spring 131 toward the rear wall 111, the hinges 115 and 125 rotateabout the pin 130 against the action of the spring 131. As a result, theclip 120 is moved, or opened, away from the rear wall 111. In thiscondition, the user passes the belt through the space 120 of the clip120 and then releases the clip 120. Consequently, the anti-slip portion122 of the plate 121 is brought into contact with the rear wall 111 dueto the action of the spring 131, preventing the body 110 from droppingfrom the belt. Thereafter, the user puts the portable apparatus 101 inthe pocket 110 a of the body 110.

The above conventional holder has some problems left unsolved, asdiscussed earlier.

Reference will be made to FIGS. 1-6 for describing a holder for aportable apparatus embodying the present invention. As shown, the holderis made up of a body 10 and a clip 20. The body 10 is capable ofremovably receiving a pager or similar portable apparatus 1. The clip 20is removably mounted to the rear of the body 10.

In the illustrative embodiment, the body 10 and clip 20 each areimplemented as a molding of resin that is lightweight, durable and easyto shape. Of course, the body 10 and clip 20 may each be formed of anyother suitable material by any desired method so long as it allows theholder to hold the portable apparatus 1.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the body 10 is implemented by a thin plate inthe form of a bottomed, top-open rectangular case and has a pocket 10 afor receiving the apparatus 1.

In the illustrative embodiment, an opening 10 b is formed in the frontand bottom of the body 10 and communicated to the top opening of thebody 10 at its center portion. The opening 10 b not only facilitates themovement of the apparatus 1 into and out of the pocket 10 a, but alsoallows the user to easily see a display 1 a and operate buttons arrangedon the apparatus 1 therethrough. In addition, the opening 10 b serves toradiate heat generated in the apparatus 10 to the outside. Moreover, theopening 10 b positioned at the front of the body 10 facilitates theremoval of the clip 20, as will be described specifically later.

A guide 30 for guiding the clip 20 is formed on a rear wall 11 includedin the body 10. Specifically, the guide 30 is positioned on the upperend of the rear wall 11 and includes a pair of parallel rails 31 and 32extending in the lateral direction of the body 10. More specifically,the guide 30 is a substantially U-shaped frame portion open at its oneend in the lateral direction of the body 10. In the illustrativeembodiment, the frame portion protrudes from the rear wall 11 so as toform the guide 30. The top and bottom of the U-shaped guide 30constitute the rails 31 and 32, respectively.

The clip 20 includes an engaging portion 40, which will be describedspecifically later, engageable with the rails 31 and 32 and slidablealong the rails 31 and 32 in the lateral direction of the holder (arrowA, FIG. 3). The rails 31 and 32 are positioned at substantially thecenter of the upper end of the rear plate 11. The end of the U-shapedguide 30 opposite to the open end constitutes a stop 33 for stopping theleading end of the engaging portion 40 in the direction in which theportion 40 is slid into the guide 30. A lug 60 protrudes from a positionof the rear plate 11 between the rails 31 and 32.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the clip 20 is implemented by a thin plate 21having opposite ends bent toward the body 10 in the form of a letter Cas viewed in a vertical section. The upper bent end, as viewed in FIGS.3 and 4, of the clip 20 merges into the engaging portion 40. The plate21 is positioned with its lengthwise direction coinciding with thedirection of height of the holder 10 and then mounted to the body 10.

Because the clip 20 is formed of resin, as stated earlier, the plate 2is elastically deformable away from the body 10 to an adequate degreewhen the user's belt is to be passed through the clip 20.

The engaging portion 40 of the clip 20 includes a flat surface parallelto the rear wall 11 of the body 11, as illustrated. The upper and loweredges of the flat surface or engaging portion 40 constitute a pair ofridges 41 and 42 slidable on the rails 31 and 32, respectively. Theother or trailing end of the engaging portion 40 in the direction A,FIG. 3, in which the portion 40 is slid into the guide 30 is configuredas a stop 43 perpendicular to the ridges 41 and 42. When the engagingportion 40 is slid into the guide 30, the trailing end of the portion 40abuts against the ends of the rails 31 and 32.

The lower end of the plate 21 opposite to the upper end or engagingportion 40 is implemented as a curved end 21 a. As shown in FIG. 5, thebent end 21 a has such a height that a small gap exists between the bentend 21 a and the rear wall 11 when the engaging portion 40 is slid intothe guide 30.

The illustrative embodiment further includes a locking device arrangedon the guide 30 and engaging portion 40. Specifically, as shown in FIGS.5 and 6, the locking device is constituted by the previously mentionedlug 60 protruding from the guide 30 and a recess 50 formed in theengaging portion 40. When the engaging portion 40 is slide into theguide 30, the recess 50 and lug 60 mate with each other and lock theclip 20 to the body 10.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, the recess 50 is formed in theflat surface of the engaging portion 40 expected to face the rear wall11 of the body 10. As shown in FIG. 5, the recess 50 is positionedsubstantially at the intermediate between the upper and lower ridges 41and 42. The recess 50 is at least deep enough to receive the lug 60 andshould preferably be sized slightly greater than the lug 60 such thatthe walls of the recess 50 do not hit against the lug 60. The recess 50may be replaced with a hole extending throughout the engaging portion40, if desired.

The lug 60 elastically protrudes from the rear wall 11 of the body 10rearward, i.e., toward the recess 50 expected to mate with the lug 60.In the illustrative embodiment, the lug 60 is formed integrally with therear wall 11 between the rails 31 and 32. More specifically, as shown inFIGS. 3-6, a slit 61 is formed in the rear wall 11 around the lug 60.The lug 61 is connected to the rear wall 11 by an elastic piece 62 atone side of the slit 62 and protrudes from the rear wall 11.

In the illustrative embodiment, the above slit 62 is elongate in thelateral direction of the rear wall 11, i.e., in the direction A, FIG. 3.The lug 61 is connected to one side of the wall of the slit 61 in thelengthwise direction of the slit 61 by the elastic piece 62. The elasticpiece 62 therefore supports the lug 60 with a preselected degree ofelasticity, so that the lug 60 is elastically movable into and out ofthe recess 50.

In the illustrative embodiment, the lug 60, slit 61 and elastic piece 62are formed integrally with the body 10 by use of resin. This implementsa simple locking device without resorting to a sophisticated structureor a number of parts. If desired, the lug 60 and elastic piece 62 may beformed independently of the rear wall 11 and then affixed to the wall ofthe slit 61 so long as the lug 60 can elastically move into and out ofthe recess 50.

As shown in FIG. 6, the lug 60 includes a surface 60 a that faces theengaging portion 40 when the portion is slid into the guide 30. Thesurface 60 a is inclined forward in the direction in which the engagingportion 40 is slid into the guide 30. This inclined surface 60 apromotes the smooth engagement of the engaging portion 40 with the guide30 and allows the lug 60 and recess 50 to easily mate with each other.Consequently, the clip 20 can be easily mounted to the body 10.

As shown in FIG. 6, the end of the lug 60 opposite to the end contiguouswith the elastic piece 62 is implemented as an inclined surface 60 binclined toward the recess 50. The part of the wall of the slit 61facing the above end of the lug 60 is implemented as an inclined surface61 a substantially parallel to the inclined surface 60 b.

To release the lug 60 from the recess 50, a screwdriver or similar toolhaving a sharp tip is inserted into a gap between the above inclinedsurfaces 60 b and 61 b from the rear of the lug 60, i.e., the inside ofthe body 10. After the tip of the tool has been positioned on theinclined surface 60 b, the tool is pushed toward the operator so as todeform the elastic piece 62 until the lug 60 has been released from therecess 50. In this manner, the clip 20 with the recess 50 can be easilyremoved from the body 10 with the lug 60 and replaced with a new clip.The removal of the clip 20 from the body 10 is performed through thefront opening 10 b of the body 10 after the removal of the portableapparatus 1 from the body 10.

How the clip 20 is mounted to and dismounted from the body 10 will bedescribed specifically hereinafter. To mount the clip 20 to the body 10,the engaging portion 40 of the slip 20 is slid into the guide 30 of thebody 10 via the open end of the guide 30. At this instant, the rails 31and 32 respectively guide the ridges 41 and 42 in the direction A, FIG.3. Although the lug 60 protruding from the guide 30 abuts against thehead end of the engaging portion 40 in the direction A, it iselastically deformable about the elastic piece 62. This, coupled withthe inclined surface 60 a of the lug 60, allows the engaging portion 40to smoothly slide into the guide 30.

The engaging portion 40 stops sliding when its leading end abuts againstthe stop 33 of the guide 30 and when its trailing end or stop 43 abutsagainst the open end of the guide 30. At the same time, the lug 60smoothly snaps into the recess 50 because of its elasticity and inclinedsurface 60 a.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show the body and clip 20 in the assembled condition. Asshown in FIG. 5, the plate 21 is spaced from the rear wall 11, formingthe space 20 a mentioned earlier. In this condition, the user's belt isinserted into the space 20 a via the gap between the rear wall 11 andthe curved lower end 21 a of the clip 20. This can be easily done onlyif the portion of the clip 20 adjoining the above end 21 a is pulledaway from the body 10.

The belt received in the space 20 a is prevented from slipping outbecause the engaging portion or upper end 40 of the clip 20 is engagedwith the guide 30 and because the curved lower end 21 a of the clip 20is curved toward the body 10. After the above procedure, the user mayput the portable apparatus 1 in the pocket 10 a for carrying theapparatus 1 with the user.

To remove the clip 20 from the body 10, the user first removes theapparatus 1 from the pocket 10 a of the body 10 and then inserts ascrewdriver or similar tool with a sharp tip via the front opening 10 bof the body 10 and the rear of the lug 60 received in the recess 50.After positioning the tip of the tool between the parallel inclinedsurfaces 60 b and 61 b, the user pushes the tip toward the user. As aresult, the tip of the tool contacts the inclined surface 60 b anddeforms the elastic piece 62 inward, causing the lug 60 to move out ofthe recess 50. As a result, the lug 60 and recess 50 are released fromeach other. In this condition, the user slides the clip 20 away from thebody 10 in the direction opposite to the direction A, FIG. 3.

The above embodiment achieves the following various unprecedentedadvantages.

(1) The clip 20 capable of receiving the user's belt is removablymounted to the body 10 capable of receiving the apparatus body 1. Thebody 10 or the clip 20 can therefore be freely replaced withoutdegrading easy and efficient maintenance of the holder.

(2) The holder is made up only of the body 10 and clip 20. The holdertherefore has only a far smaller number of parts than the conventionalholder needing not only a holder body and a clip but also a coil spring,a shaft, stop members, etc.

(3) Only if the engaging portion 40 of the clip 20 is slid into theguide 30 of the body 10, the holder assembly is completed with therecess 50 and lug 60 mating with each other. The body 10 and clip 20 cantherefore be firmly assembled in a short period of time by a simpleoperation.

(4) The lug 60 is resiliently movable into and out of the recess 50.Therefore, the removal of the clip 20 from the body 10 is also easy andrapid. In addition, the clip 20 can be easily replaced without impairingeasy maintenance.

(5) The lug 60 is resiliently movable about a fulcrum positioned on thewall of the slit 61. Therefore, when the engaging portion 40 is slidinto the guide 30 and when the lug 60 mates with the recess 50, the lug60 resiliently snaps into the recess 50. This allows the clip 20 to beextremely easily mounted to the body 10.

(6) The lug 60 is formed integrally with the body 10 with the slit 61surrounding the lug 60. The clip 20 can therefore be mounted to anddismounted from the body 10 without resorting to a sophisticatedstructure or a number of parts. This reduces the production cost of theholder.

Referring to FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, an alternative embodiment of the holderin accordance with the present invention will be described. As shown,this embodiment is identical with the previous embodiment except for theorientation of the slit 61. In FIGS. 7-9, the structural elementsidentical with the structural elements shown in FIGS. 3-6 are designatedby identical reference numerals and will not be described specificallyin order to avoid redundancy.

As shown in FIGS. 7-9, the slit 61 surrounding the lug 60 except for theresilient piece 62 is elongate in the direction substantiallyperpendicular to the direction in which the engaging portion 40 is slidinto the guide 30 (direction A, FIG. 7). The lug 60 is connected to oneend of the slit 61 in the above direction by the elastic piece 62. Itfollows that the lug 60 expected to mate with the recess 50 is alsopositioned substantially perpendicularly to the lug 60 of the previousembodiment. In addition, as shown in FIG. 9, the inclined portion 60 bof the lug 60 and the inclined portion 61 a of the slit 61 both areinclined in the direction of height of the body 10.

The above orientation of the slit 61 allows a position where the lug 60is more easy to remove from the recess 50 to be selected and therebymakes the clip 20 easier to replace.

The inclined surfaces 60 b and 61 a of the lug 60 and slit 61,respectively, each are inclined upward in the direction of height of thebody 10, as stated above. This allows the user to release the lug 60from the recess 50 via the front opening 10 b or the top opening of thebody 10, as desired. The clip 20 is therefore easier to remove from thebody 10 than the clip 20 of the previous embodiment.

In summary, it will be seen that the present invention provides a holderneeding a minimum number of parts, allowing a body and a clip to befirmly assembled in a simple structure, and promoting easy and rapidreplacement of the holder or that of the clip.

Various modifications will become possible for those skilled in the artafter receiving the teachings of the present disclosure withoutdeparting from the scope thereof. For example, in the illustrativeembodiments, the body of the holder is implemented by a thin plate inthe form of a bottomed rectangular case open at its front and bottom.However, the present invention is applicable to any kind of body capableof accommodating a portable apparatus and being provided with a guideand an engaging portion at one side thereof.

To lock the clip to the body, the illustrative embodiments each includea lug and a recess provided on the body and clip, respectively.Alternatively, the lug and recess may be provided on the clip and body,respectively. The crux is that the lug be positioned between one ofrails and ridges formed on the body and clip while the recess bepositioned between the other of them. When the lug is formed on theclip, the slit surrounding the lug will be formed throughout the wall ofthe engaging portion, and the clip will be removed from the body fromthe outside of the slip.

Two or more guides capable of mating with the engaging portion may beformed on the body so as to allow the user to change the position formounting the clip to the body, as desired.

Also, two engaging portions may be formed on both ends of the clip, inwhich case two guides respectively capable of mating with the engagingportions will be formed on the body. This allows the clip to be morefirmly mounted to the body.

What is claimed is:
 1. A holder for a portable apparatus, comprising: abody for removably receiving the portable apparatus; a clip removablymounted to said body; a guide rail formed on one surface of said bodyand including a pair of parallel rails; an engaging portion included insaid clip and including a pair of ridges slidingly engageable with saidpair of rails; a locking device provided on said guide and said engagingportion for selectively locking or unlocking said guide and saidengaging portion to or from each other, said locking device comprising arecess positioned between said pair of ridges and a lug positionedbetween said pair of rails; and a slit surrounding said lug, said lugbeing connected to one side of a wall of said slit and elasticallydeformable toward and away from said recess; wherein said recess andsaid lug mate with each other when said engaging portion is slid intosaid guide.
 2. A holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein a surface of saidlug facing said engaging portion when said engaging portion is slid intosaid guide is inclined forward in a direction in which said engagingportion is slid into said guide.
 3. A holder as claimed in claim 2,wherein an end of said lug opposite to an end connected to said wall ofsaid slit is inclined toward said recess.
 4. A holder as claimed inclaim 3, wherein a portion of said wall of said slit facing the inclinedend of said lug is inclined substantially in parallel to said inclinedend.
 5. A holder as claimed in claim 4, wherein said slit is elongate insaid direction.
 6. A holder as claimed in claim 4, wherein said slit iselongate in a direction substantially perpendicular to said direction.7. A holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein an end of said lug oppositeto an end connected to said wall of said slit is inclined toward saidrecess.
 8. A holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein a portion of saidwall of said slit facing the inclined end of said lug is inclinedsubstantially in parallel to said inclined end.
 9. A holder as claimedin claim 1, wherein said slit is elongate in said direction.
 10. Aholder as claimed in claim 1, wherein said slit is elongate in adirection substantially perpendicular to said direction.